Why don

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Why dont girls choose physics?

• What female Mathematical Methods students have to
  say

Jane Coyle Marian College
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Why dont girls choose physics?

• I love physics.
• I am a girl
• Am I an oddity?
• Am I failure?

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Why dont girls choose physics?

• I also teach Mathematical Methods
• I like Mathematics too
• I am still a girl
• The girls are interested in the physics when I
  talk about it in Methods, but they dont study
  Physics
• Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?

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Why dont girls choose physics?

• Girls are underrepresented in physics despite
  curriculum and pedagogical initiatives to make
  physics more appealing VCE data
• (Cumming, 1997 IUPAP, 2005 Kelly, 1982
  Parker, 2002).
• Numbers of students studying physics have dropped
  both at secondary and tertiary levels VCE
  data
• (Parliament of Victoria, 2006 AUTC, 2005
  Thomson, 2005)

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VCE dataUnit 4 Physics 2001 2006 by gender as
a of each cohort
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VCE dataUnit 4 Physics 2001 2007 by gender as
a of physics cohort
In 2001 27.2 of Unit 4 Physics students were
girls, in 2007 23.3 Back
7
VCE dataUnit 4 Physics 2001 - 2006
Drop from 16.0 to 13.7 of those eligible to
complete VCE Back
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The Study

• The Yr 11 Mathematical Methods cohort from three
  girls schools was surveyed about
• their understanding of and attitude toward
  studying physics,
• their reasons for their subject choices of
  Mathematical Methods and Physics (or not if they
  didnt choose it)
• Who helped them make their choices
• Data from VCAA was analysed to establish
  enrolment trends in physics over the last five
  years

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Why only Mathematical Methods students?

• Students capable in mathematics are more likely
  to be successful in physics. (Hudson Liberman,
  1982 Hudson McIntire, 1976 Norvilitis et al.,
  2002 Saayman, 1991 Sells, 1975)
• Mathematical Methods is reasonable indicator of
  mathematical ability

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Why only Mathematical Methods students?

• The VCE study design has an expectation that
  student have some mathematical ability. The
  second dot point in the aims for the course
  states
• To understand the way knowledge is extended,
  organised and revised in physics, in particular
  the role of conceptual and mathematical models
  applied to physical phenomenon. (Victorian
  Curriculum Authority, 2004, p.7)
• In fact mathematical modelling or application is
  mention at least 20 times in the document

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Why only Mathematical Methods students?

• The areas of calculus, logarithms, trigonometry,
  complex number and algebraic manipulation as
  areas of greatest concern in regard to
  mathematical ability of first year physics
  undergraduates. Gill (1999)
• Other than complex numbers, all of these
  particular areas of mathematics are covered in
  the VCE Mathematical Methods course.

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Why only Mathematical Methods students?

• Mathematical Methods is stated as a prerequisite
  for seven out of nine physics courses identified
  by the Victorian Tertiary Admissions Council
  (VTAC). The two courses that did not have it as
  a prerequisite highly recommended it be studied.
  
• All of the university engineering courses had
  Mathematical Methods or Specialist Mathematics as
  a prerequisite.

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Why only Mathematical Methods students?

• Students tend to choose Physics and Mathematical
  Mathematics together and many schools recommend
  that (and sometimes insist) they be taken
  together.
• The VCE data support this VCE data

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VCE dataPercentage of students who study Unit 2
Physics with Mathematical Methods 2000 - 2005
Back
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Why only girls schools?

• To identify issues that relate to girls
  interests and perceptions
• To offset any gender issues in mixed gendered
  schools such as students concern of gender
  imbalance in the classroom

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Why only girls schools?

• The philosophy of single-sex girls education
  includes challenging gender stereotypes resulting
  in better outcomes (Kelly, 1982 Stage,
  Kreinberg, Parsons Becker, 1985 Watterston,
  2001).
• In a single-sex school, one may expect that
  subjects traditionally dominated by male
  enrolments such as physics and mathematics, would
  have a larger than average female uptake.

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What the girls saidReasons for studying
Mathematical Methods
Next
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What the girls saidReasons for studying
Mathematical Methods

• Because it is a prerequisite and I need it to get
  into the courses I want School A
• I was unsure of what I wanted to study once Ive
  finished high school and I know that many of the
  courses require Methods as a prerequisite.
  School B
• Maths Methods is a prerequisite for some
  university courses I am interested in. It leaves
  my options open School C
• I Personally do not like studying mathematics, I
  only study it because it is a prerequisite and I
  need it.if methods wasn't a prerequisite I
  wouldn't do it
• - School A

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What the girls saidReasons for studying
Mathematical Methods

• It gives me options for year 12 and further years
  School B
• It is a prerequisite for many courses in Uni and
  because Im not sure what I want to do, I thought
  to keep my options open School B
• I believed that if I study Methods, it would
  leave more options open School A

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What the girls saidReasons for studying
Mathematical Methods

• I love maths. Ive had a passion for it since I
  was young. Im good at it. I achieve good marks
  - School A
• I enjoy maths, I am good at maths, I understand
  maths. School B
• I like maths and was doing well and understanding
  the topics last year and enjoyed doing it
  School B

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What the girls saidReasons for studying
Mathematical Methods

• I wanted to challenge myself (I thought general
  maths would be a little easy). School B
• I also chose it because I wanted a challenge,
  though Specialist seemed hard and General maths
  much easier so choosing Methods would be alright
  and intermediate. School B
• I though I might enjoy the challenge School C
• Challenging, can gain satisfaction after
  completing/understanding the work School A

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What the girls saidDo you know what physics is
all about?
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What the girls saidDo you know what physics is
all about?

• Not really, I believe its got something to do
  with light and electronics?! School A
• I dont really know exactly what physics is
  about. However, I know it includes Einsteins
  theory of relativity, how light and sound travels
  and different types of forces etc. School A
• Velocity, how things work, mechanics??? School
  A
• Physics is about a range of things, from light,
  motion, energy to Newtons Laws. It is a science
  based on physical movement School A

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What the girls saidDo you know what physics is
all about?

• Physics is the study of speed and velocity etc
  School B
• Movement, speed, velocity etc. I remember
  something about Newton's Law School B
• The way things work, velocity, machine workings,
  displacement etc. School B
• Yes, its like energy and forces and motion and
  Newtons Law and stuff like that School C
• Working out problems related to motion and
  energy, its pretty mathematical School C

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What the girls saidReasons for not choosing
physics
Next
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What the girls saidReasons for not choosing
physics

• I don't really know a lot about physics, but it
  doesn't seem to be a subject that interests me
  School C
• Because it seems really boring and pointless and
  a lot of work. I prefer to do subjects that
  relates more to real life and people School B
• I found physics quite tedious and boring, but
  found other forms of science more interesting
  School A

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What the girls saidReasons for not choosing
physics

• I had a preview of Physics in Year 10. We
  covered topics like light, energy, force,
  Newtons laws and I found I didnt really like
  them and wasnt so fascinated- School A
• I did not like it in Year 10 so I did not study
  it in Yr 11 School C
• Did not enjoy learning about forces School B

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What the girls saidReasons for not choosing
physics

• I chose not to do physics, as I did not have a
  chance to do it as I could only do 6 subjects.
  It was my 7th subject School A
• They wouldnt let me because of the subject
  blocks, otherwise I would be doing it School C
• I didnt have enough spaces to do physics
  School B
• I chose not to study physics as I simply did not
  have enough space in my timetable School B
• Because ESL and Physics in the same block. I
  cant choose two in one block. Overseas students
  have to choose ESL School C

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What the girls saidReasons for not choosing
physics

• I didn't know what it is, it sounds hard School
  B
• Not many other girls chose the subject (I think
  about four girls) so that made it seem like a
  hard and challenging subject b/c not many girls
  chose it School B
• I heard it was difficult so I wanted to choose
  subjects I knew I could do well in School C
• It sounded extremely hard and I didn't believe I
  had the determination of heart to do such a
  subject School A
• Physics is also portrayed as a difficult subject
  - School C

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What the girls saidReasons for not choosing
physics

• I had a scary experience in year 8 when I
  received a medium for a physics test School B
• I am not good at physics although I received
  reasonable marks last year in the topics
  containing physics School B
• I am not smart enough to do physics School C

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What the girls saidReasons for not choosing
physics

• I wouldnt be able to cope doing another maths
  related subject School A
• I also thought that Methods and General were
  enough maths to be doing, and enough homework
  School B

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What the girls saidReasons for not choosing
physics

• I dont need Physics for my university courses
  School A
• It is not a prerequisite for anything I am
  interested in School B
• I didnt need it as a prerequisite School C

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What the girls saidReasons for choosing physics
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What the girls saidIs physics what you expected?

• I expected it to be much drier and only involve
  movement there is actually a lot more prac.
  work and nuclear physics was a really good change
  School C
• It is not what I expected, I thought it would be
  about distance and motion etc. I find we do
  learn interesting things, especially the unit on
  nuclear science - School C
• No, it isnt as hard, but it is challenging. It
  is a bit boring but I still enjoy it - School B

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What the girls saidWho influenced your choice?
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What the girls saidWho influenced your choice?

• My parents helped me work out what pre-requisite
  subjects I need for my uni course School B
• My parents helping me with deciding on the career
  path I wanted to follow School A
• They parents helped me decide what subjects I
  need to take School C

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What the girls saidWho influenced your choice?

• Teachers they tried to help me by discussing the
  importance of these subjects to the career I
  wanted School C
• My class teacher gave me an idea of what I was
  good at and what I could do well in School A
• The careers counsellor helped a lot with advice
  about prerequisites School B
• Career's counsellor advised about prerequisites -
  helped me with selecting subjects to maximise my
  VCE score, what I enjoyed and prerequisites for
  my chosen course - physics was never mentioned
  School B
• Careers Counsellor helped me decide what I
  wanted to do in the future and therefore what the
  prerequisites were School C

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What the girls saidWho influenced your choice?

• My subject choices were based on receiving the
  best ENTER score I can and leaving my options
  open so that I can get into any university course
  I wanted School A
• I chose subjects because I wanted to do them as
  they were the best choices for university
  School C
• I just looked at the prerequisites of the courses
  I want to do in Uni. I had a pretty good idea
  with what courses I would like to do so this
  influenced my subject selection School B

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What the girls saidWho influenced your choice?

• They peers helped me figure out the pros and
  cons of the subjects I was considering School
  A
• Other students saying that physics was really
  hard in VCE
• School B
• I hate sciences, but a girl (who entered Harvard)
  motivated me. She did all sciences and maths, so
  I decided to choose one science and two maths
  School C

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One last interesting finding
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Summing up

• From the surveys it was established that the
  majority of these girls found junior physics
  boring and did not see any future relevance in
  the study of physics.
• The findings also brought into question the
  purported benefits of the all-girl environment to
  challenge the gender gap in enrolments for
  stereotypically male subjects such as physics and
  mathematics.
• The VCAA data established that there is a
  distinct gender gap in enrolments for VCE
  Physics.

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Summing up

• The combination of these results paints a bleak
  picture for female participation in the study of
  Physics in Victoria. If female enrolments in
  physics are to be increased, greater efforts are
  needed to capture the imagination of these
  potential students and to open their minds to the
  opportunities that the study of physics has to
  offer.

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Why dont girls choose physics?

• Jane Coyle
• Marian College, Sunshine West
• cjane_at_marian.melb.catholic.edu.au